OSCE Mission to Serbia supports sustainable development in Vrsac

The city of Vrsac, in eastern Serbia, is known for its wind, its wine and especially its trees, which not only flourish in the areas around the city, but are very much part of the downtown as well.

But there are development plans that would deprive parts of the city of its unique character by chopping down some of those trees. These plans are being opposed by local environmental NGO Avalon through an advocacy project supported by the OSCE Mission to Serbia, which aims to promote protection of the environment while not restricting development.

The Avalon project is part of a wider initiative funded by the U.S. Mission to the OSCE to improve political co-operation at the local and national levels. The Vrsac-based NGO is just one of 11 taking part from all over Serbia, implementing projects covering a range of topics.

Avalon's President Budimir Babic and local lawyer Mirjana Aleksic both emphasize that they want to work together with the municipal council to maintain Vrsac's unique character while allowing the city to grow.

Citizens speak out

"We are not against development," says Aleksic, "but it should be done in a way that preserves the ambience of Vrsac and its trees." When asked, local residents taking advantage of the shade offered by the threatened trees in Ruski Park agreed, likening the park to an inner city retreat.

"We will focus our efforts on protecting the trees in the park," adds Babic, "because this is an important public space, and can give our project a lot of momentum."

Avalon's strategy to inform the public of the proposed changes includes a petition against the cutting down of the trees. It has also requested information directly from the municipal council on how the plans were agreed upon.

With support from citizens such as Mirjana Aleksic, Avalon has so far collected over 1,350 signatures for the petition, and has sponsored a billboard calling attention to the issue in the centre of Vrsac in July this year.

Together with local NGOs which support more sustainable development, Avalon also organized a joint press conference this summer. Other initiatives have included a TV advertisement, and the distribution of leaflets and posters, printed on recycled paper.

Encouraging signs

Because of the importance of working together with the municipal officials in Vrsac, Avalon has made sure to keep the city's government informed of activities. In an encouraging sign of the latter's willingness to work with civil society, all Avalon's requests for information have been promptly dealt with - an openness that Avalon also hopes to encounter at the national level.

"This programme will help forge a deeper connection between the Government in Belgrade and civil society," says Daiana Falloni, Governance Advisor at the OSCE Mission. "Good communication between civil society and the state is central to a democratic system."

From local to national

Addressing the national Government will be the next step, and the one most central to the Mission's project. Members of Avalon will contact national MPs who are originally from Vrsac, as well as the relevant ministries and parliamentary committees to inform them of the issues affecting their home municipality.

"This will be a big step towards improving the connection between the Serbian Government, the local municipalities and civil society," says Falloni. "A successful conclusion to the project will, of course, incorporate all these elements, but will also ensure the survival of the trees so central to the city's identity."